Heisman Trophy Winner Takes a Stand

He chooses life.

Tim Tebow, Heisman Trophy winner and quarterback for the University of Florida will appear in an advertisement during the superbowl that is paid for by the group Focus on the Family.

The ad features Tebow and his mother, and she discusses her choice for life. Of course, people are already taking sides at his school:

“It’s a big coming-out party for Tim Tebow in terms of moving from athletic superstar to the political realm,” said Daniel Smith, UF associate professor of political science and faculty adviser to Gators for Choice.

Once the ad airs on national television, it might cause some interesting discussions on college campuses while also rallying the pro-choice community, Smith added. The commercial’s content might also have an effect on Tebow’s fan base.

“When you are an athlete and you put yourself out in the public sphere when it comes to politics, you have a good chance of alienating half your fan support,” Smith said.

Some are even itching for a fight, and it seems to me ironic that a law student would want to prohibit free speech and personal beliefs:

Karen Middlekauff, a UF law student and the president of Outlaw, an organization for College of Law LGBT students, said she believes that Tebow is still a representative of UF, and he has chosen to represent a viewpoint that shouldn’t be associated with the university.

“Focus on the Family is a very well-known group for speaking out against LGBT issues,” she said. “A lot of people know that.”

The commercial is also highlights the strength of Tebow’s religious beliefs, something the general public may not be aware of, she said.

“The UF community itself knows that he is very religious and he’s done a lot of humanitarian work,” Middlekauff said. “I don’t know if the public knows that. They’ll know after this.”

AC Stokes, the UF director of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs, said Tebow is probably aware that he is being used for a political purpose and that he will now be associated with Focus on the Family’s viewpoints.

“I got a call from an alumnus that was pretty outraged by the fact that Tim Tebow was going to be in this commercial,” Stokes said.

It seems to me that tolerance goes both ways. Form what I gather, Tim isn’t disrespecting the LGBT groups or even commenting on them. His association with Focus on the family is purely to celebrate life, something everyone should be behind, and even if he didn’t approve of the gay lifestyle, so what. People are entitled to their opinions, no? Of course Tim has support from some people at the University of Florida:

Camille Jacobs, a UF junior and member of Campus Crusade for Christ, said she was excited to hear that Tebow has this opportunity. 
 
“He’s just standing up for what he believes in,” Jacobs said, “and no matter what you believe in, it’s going to be controversial.” 
 
She said students of the Gator Nation will probably be behind him “whether they’re Christian or not.”
 
“He wouldn’t say things just because it kind of sounds good or will stir up trouble,” she said. “People know he’s speaking straight from the heart.”

Whatever the case, this will be a polarizing issue for many, those that are pro-life, and those that are pro-death. Those that say they are pro-choice just don’t want to admit they are pro-death or really don’t understand the consequences of what they believe. I can’t wait to take a side.

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